More Drams, Less Drama

What Is Cognac?

1st December 20245th December 2024Coldorak

As I will begin and enjoy (I hope), starting tomorrow, my first Cognac Advent Calendar, I thought it would be useful to take the time to explain here what is Cognac. This renowned and prestigious variety of brandy has a storied history rooted in the Charente region of France. Known for its refined flavours, complexity, and artisanal production methods, cognac holds a revered position in the world of spirits. Its name is legally protected, ensuring that only brandy produced under strict guidelines in the Cognac region can carry this prestigious title. From its historical emergence as a trade commodity to its modern status as a symbol of sophistication, cognac’s legacy is rich and multifaceted. This article explores the origins of cognac, its historical significance, and the meticulous process that defines its creation.

Ardnahoe 5-year-old Inaugural Release

30th November 20243rd December 2024Coldorak

Ardnahoe, a young Islay distillery founded in 2017, sits between Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila, offering stunning views of the Sound of Islay with Mull and Jura in the background. Owned by independent bottler Hunter Laing, it boasts Scotland’s longest lyne arms at 7.5 metres and uses wooden worm tubs for condensation. They waited until their whisky reached five years to launch their Ardnahoe 5-year-old Inaugural Release earlier this year – better late than never for me to finally taste and review it!

Signatory 100 Proof Exceptional Cask #1, #2 and #3

Aultmore / Glenburgie / Macduff 100 Proof Exceptional Casks Signatory Vintage

28th November 202427th November 2024Coldorak

Part of the recent and ever-growing series 100 proof from Signatory Vintage, the independent bottler released a few bottlings as an ‘Exceptional Cask’ subseries. We review the first three whiskies bottled in this series: an Aultmore 2007, a Glenburgie 2008 and a Macduff 2007 100 Proof Exceptional Casks, Edition #1 to 3, from Signatory Vintage.

Domaine de Charron 1996 2008 Swell de Spirits Bas-Armagnac

Domain de Charron 1996 & 2008 Swell de Spirits

22nd November 202422nd November 2024Coldorak

Although Domaine de Charron traces its origins back to the early 20th century, its journey into Armagnac production truly began decades later. In 1985, Fernand Lartigue considered uprooting the vines on his grandmother’s plot in Perquie. However, his sons, Claude and Jacques, stepped in to acquire the 2-hectare vineyard, preserving the Baco vines and reviving Armagnac production. The vineyard’s care was entrusted to a neighboring winemaker, whose expertise ensured the creation of high-quality, natural wines from the start.

Thanks to our friends at Swell de Spirits, I’ve received samples of two Domaine de Charron Armagnacs as part of a box featuring malternatives and spirits. Let’s dive into these two releases, Domaine de Charron 1996 and 2008, bottled by Swell de Spirits.

Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot L.70 'Le Cognac d'Arlette' Petite Champagne Cognac

Cognac Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot L.70 Petite Champagne

15th November 202415th November 2024Coldorak

Domaine Jean-Luc Pasquet is both a producer of Cognac and a bottler of cognacs crafted by small-scale winemakers. The estate is managed by Jean and Amy Pasquet, the son and daughter-in-law of founder Jean-Luc Pasquet. On one hand, they produce an organic range of cognacs, with organic practices dating back to 1998. On the other, they consider themselves “treasure hunters,” seeking out hidden gems from small winemakers’ cellars and independent distillers. It’s this latter role that brings JLP to More Drams today, as I review their latest find, the Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot L.70 ‘Le Cognac d’Arlette’ Petite Champagne Cognac, bottled in their ‘Trésors de Famille’ range.

Bimber Shoulders of Giants Second Release

8th November 20248th November 2024Coldorak

Bimber returns with a second round of releases in its ‘Shoulders of Giants’ series. Eight new ‘Giants’ have been introduced, joining the original six from the first batch, along with fresh country exclusives – this time with Germany and Belgium joining the UK and Poland. With samples from all eight of these new expressions kindly sent by Bimber a few weeks ago, let’s dive into a review of this Bimber Shoulders of Giants Second Release.

Teeling 21-Year-Old Rising Reserve No.3

19th October 202419th October 2024Coldorak

For a change, we’re reviewing a whiskey that’s actually still available and not already sold out, long gone, or marked up threefold on the secondary market. Hard to believe, right? Recently, I was working as an exhibitor for a Scottish independent bottler at the Nantes Spirits Festival, a whisky show. It has nothing to do with this Teeling, I know, but one of the perks of being an exhibitor is the chance to sample a few whiskies and malternatives before or after the event opens to the public—or even during a quick break. Who needs food when you can savour some good or even exceptional whiskies and cognacs, right? Anyway, while I was pouring my own whiskies for Baptiste Charron, the French Teeling ambassador, we got talking, and he introduced me to the Teeling 21-year-old Rising Reserve No.3, which I’m reviewing today. I was lucky enough to take a sample home with me to taste it again, with time and a fresh palate. But first…

Bimber Shoulders of Giants

22nd September 202412th November 2024Coldorak

Bimber recently introduced* a new series, ‘Shoulder of Giants’, a tribute to the thinkers, innovators, and visionaries who have shaped history. While the connection to whisky may not be immediately obvious, perhaps these celebrated figures were whisky enthusiasts – though, in the case of Nicolaus Copernicus, who passed away in 1543 in Poland, it’s unlikely he ever had the chance to enjoy a dram! Regardless, this theme is as fitting as many others embraced by distilleries, and the labels are nothing short of stunning. Thanks to Bimber Distillery, we didn’t just have the last Spirit of the Underground batch, we also have all six expressions from the ‘Shoulder of Giants’ series in front of us – three exclusive to the UK and three to Poland. Let’s dive in and explore what each of these whiskies has to offer.

Bimber The Spirit of the Underground – Release No. 6

13th July 20242nd August 2024Coldorak

Back in 2021, Bimber started its then-new collection, The Spirit of the Underground, celebrating many stations from the London Underground passenger railway system, the Tube. We could review the first batch of four stations in June 2021, thanks to a Tweet Tasting with Steve Rush and Matt McKay. Fast forward three years and they’ve already released their 6th batch of four expressions, that we’re trying today. The ballot for those bottles is long closed and these are all sold out, but you might be tempted to get one on the secondary market as I’m sure several of them will pop in one of the several whisky auctions you already probably know of. So maybe this review will help you choose which one to go to with my tasting notes. But remember this is my humble opinion so your taste might be different, your nose and palate may get different notes that what I recognised. So to help, I’ll also link at the end of the review a link to friends’ blogs, who also reviewed these four whiskies. But without further ado, let’s review those four Bimber The Spirit of the Underground, from their sixth release.

Old Pulteney 12, 15, Flotilla and more

6th July 20246th July 2024Coldorak

Pulteney distillery, known for its whisky labelled Old Pulteney, was once the northernmost whisky distillery on mainland Scotland. However, this title was later taken by Wolfburn and then 8 Doors distillery. The northernmost whisky distillery in Scotland overall is Highland Park. In 1825, James Henderson, who had been distilling illegally in Stemster, moved to Pulteneytown to establish a legitimate whisky distillery. The Henderson family owned it for almost a century until selling it to Jas. Watson of Dundee in 1920. In 1922, Wick town council banned alcohol sales under the influence of an American evangelist, and by 1924, Old Pulteney was sold to John Dewar & Sons, eventually becoming part of DCL. The distillery closed in 1930 due to a market downturn and reopened in 1951, four years after the ban was lifted, when local businessman Robert ‘Bertie’ Cumming bought it. He sold it, along with Balblair, to Hiram Walker in 1955. Following a series of mergers, it became part of Allied Distillers, who sold it to Inver House in 1995 when it was in desperate need of repairs. In 2001, Pacific Spirits acquired Inver House, which was later purchased by Thailand’s International Beverage Holding in 2006. Today, we will sample several Old Pulteney whiskies from the core range, including the 12- and 15-year-old expressions, the 2012 Flotilla, a 2006 Vintage released for Global Travel Retail, and an independent bottling: a 2008 single cask bottled by Daily Dram.